Wrestling with the pace of the beast - how do you balance thought versus action? - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T20:59:21Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/wrestling-with-the-pace-of-the-beast-how-do-you-balance-thought?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A308852&feed=yes&xn_auth=noBrian, I just read that I.J.…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-14:537324:Comment:3094742011-08-14T11:48:28.846ZMary McFarlandhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MaryMcFarland
Brian, I just read that I.J. Parker got her first buck from an epub of her Akitada novels. Super cool, eh? I'm writing a series for epubbing, and of course sticking to my larger goal of finding a conventional publisher for other series I'm creating. This is sooooo exciting. I do love what Maass has done for me as a writer - pushed me past some boring and static stuff in my style. But (gulp!) like you, I'm getting ready to submit to the Maass Man! So . . . let's see what happens.
Brian, I just read that I.J. Parker got her first buck from an epub of her Akitada novels. Super cool, eh? I'm writing a series for epubbing, and of course sticking to my larger goal of finding a conventional publisher for other series I'm creating. This is sooooo exciting. I do love what Maass has done for me as a writer - pushed me past some boring and static stuff in my style. But (gulp!) like you, I'm getting ready to submit to the Maass Man! So . . . let's see what happens. Bring some good stuff back fr…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-09:537324:Comment:3089102011-08-09T23:30:28.046ZBrian Hoffmanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BrianHoffman
<p>Bring some good stuff back from Donald Maas. I love his books even though they rejected my book. </p>
<p>In a way, I'm glad they did. It helped me make the right decision for me - Ebook.</p>
<p>Bring some good stuff back from Donald Maas. I love his books even though they rejected my book. </p>
<p>In a way, I'm glad they did. It helped me make the right decision for me - Ebook.</p> On board with you on this, Er…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-09:537324:Comment:3088672011-08-09T12:49:03.379ZMary McFarlandhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MaryMcFarland
On board with you on this, Eric. Especially since my guru, Donald Maass, really touts "bridging conflict." But the main conflict does have to be there, on page one, don't you think? Or some call it the "inciting incident" to the main conflict. I'm okay with that: I think I have that covered. I'm just incredibly jittery about starting out with that interior monologue.
On board with you on this, Eric. Especially since my guru, Donald Maass, really touts "bridging conflict." But the main conflict does have to be there, on page one, don't you think? Or some call it the "inciting incident" to the main conflict. I'm okay with that: I think I have that covered. I'm just incredibly jittery about starting out with that interior monologue. Nah, your comments aren't too…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-09:537324:Comment:3088662011-08-09T12:47:17.840ZMary McFarlandhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MaryMcFarland
Nah, your comments aren't too harsh, but thanks for being concerned. I agree with everything you've said, and believe me, I've truly "wrestled with this beast," as I said. I still have to get more input on the beginning. I'm heading to a Donald Maass workshop in September, so I'm sure I'll get a much harsher critique then, and I'm looking forward to that.
Nah, your comments aren't too harsh, but thanks for being concerned. I agree with everything you've said, and believe me, I've truly "wrestled with this beast," as I said. I still have to get more input on the beginning. I'm heading to a Donald Maass workshop in September, so I'm sure I'll get a much harsher critique then, and I'm looking forward to that. Eric, they call me "Ol' Brown…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-09:537324:Comment:3088522011-08-09T12:45:05.094ZMary McFarlandhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MaryMcFarland
Eric, they call me "Ol' Brown Eyes." :-)
Eric, they call me "Ol' Brown Eyes." :-) Agree with #1 and #5
Would…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-09:537324:Comment:3088102011-08-09T03:21:41.185ZEric Christophersonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/datahog
<p>Agree with #1 and #5</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Would agree with #2 if it read "Introduce SOME conflict" because there's such a thing as bridging conflict, which can satisfy the reader until the core conflict is introduced.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>#3 would be nice, but it's not essential. Most novels that open with a prologue, for example, don't introduce the main character in it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And #4 strikes me as the most formulaic of the bunch. How many classic novels would we have to toss out if this…</p>
<p>Agree with #1 and #5</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Would agree with #2 if it read "Introduce SOME conflict" because there's such a thing as bridging conflict, which can satisfy the reader until the core conflict is introduced.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>#3 would be nice, but it's not essential. Most novels that open with a prologue, for example, don't introduce the main character in it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And #4 strikes me as the most formulaic of the bunch. How many classic novels would we have to toss out if this rule was a requirement? As for contemporary novels, I could point to a lot of mysteries that open without action. Thrillers generally do open with action, though. Maybe this is a genre issue.</p> Now I wanna play some Sinatra…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-09:537324:Comment:3087972011-08-09T03:08:05.029ZEric Christophersonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/datahog
Now I wanna play some Sinatra ...
Now I wanna play some Sinatra ... My opinion:
Today's reader de…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-09:537324:Comment:3087932011-08-09T02:21:27.322ZBrian Hoffmanhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BrianHoffman
<p>My opinion:</p>
<p>Today's reader decides on a book very quickly. One paragraph maybe or maybe just the title. Chapter One has to be really good. I believe Chapter One has several jobs to do.</p>
<p>1. Grab the reader immediately</p>
<p>2. Introduce the core conflict</p>
<p>3. Introduce the main character (at least by name. Ex: Lt. Theng-a-jeg says, "Call Jones, he's he only one who can solve something like this.)</p>
<p>4. Throw the reader head first into the action.</p>
<p>5. Make…</p>
<p>My opinion:</p>
<p>Today's reader decides on a book very quickly. One paragraph maybe or maybe just the title. Chapter One has to be really good. I believe Chapter One has several jobs to do.</p>
<p>1. Grab the reader immediately</p>
<p>2. Introduce the core conflict</p>
<p>3. Introduce the main character (at least by name. Ex: Lt. Theng-a-jeg says, "Call Jones, he's he only one who can solve something like this.)</p>
<p>4. Throw the reader head first into the action.</p>
<p>5. Make you want to read Chapter 2.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think backstory is better introduced in later chapters. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>To answer your question without benefit of reading your chapter. It sounds boring. And that is the greatest sin we, as writers, can commit. We must thrill them to get them to Chapter 2.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My opinion, hope it isn't too harsh.</p>
<p> </p> True, true, true, Eric. I st…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-08:537324:Comment:3087542011-08-08T22:52:11.669ZMary McFarlandhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MaryMcFarland
True, true, true, Eric. I struggle with this a lot - not sure why. By now, I should have the issue under control. I'm going to leave it where it is, though, and see what happens. So far, in critique groups, no one has complained about the interior monologue: I've tried to make it riveting . . . so we'll see. I stuck to the rules in my first suspense novel, but I wanted to do this one "my way." Heh! I might be in for it, though.
True, true, true, Eric. I struggle with this a lot - not sure why. By now, I should have the issue under control. I'm going to leave it where it is, though, and see what happens. So far, in critique groups, no one has complained about the interior monologue: I've tried to make it riveting . . . so we'll see. I stuck to the rules in my first suspense novel, but I wanted to do this one "my way." Heh! I might be in for it, though. Degree of difficulty issue. A…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-08:537324:Comment:3086992011-08-08T14:27:45.998ZEric Christophersonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/datahog
<p>Degree of difficulty issue. An action scene, or crime scene, is of course the easy way to go, interior monologue the hard way. But it can be riveting if you got the skilz...</p>
<p>Degree of difficulty issue. An action scene, or crime scene, is of course the easy way to go, interior monologue the hard way. But it can be riveting if you got the skilz...</p>